TEACHERS' BLACKBOARD

Illustrated presentation on Ancient Mesoamerica, focussing on music, covering BOTH Aztecs AND Maya!

If you’re teaching the Aztecs, or the Maya - or both...

... read on! Our core work is Living History team visits (our ‘flagship’ Aztecs/Maya presentations) providing superb curriculum enrichment activities in schools and museums, whether you’re delivering the Aztecs/Mexica or Mayan Civilisation (KS2: World History/Study of a past society/Study of ‘a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history’), The Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest 1519-1535 (GCSE OCR/SHP 2016 syllabus), Chocolate (IPC or Edison Learning units), Hola Mexico (Cornerstones Curriculum) or as part of your school’s Creative Curriculum. But that’s just the start...

Aztecs or Maya? Or both?

We specialise in BOTH! For many years our programmes focussed on 1) Mexico generally, then 2) the Aztecs, then 3) two separate programmes, and now 4) our flagship programme combines BOTH civilisations in one session. Note though that on the day we carefully put extra emphasis on whichever topic you are delivering in your school.

Team visits

To find out more, for the Aztecs follow the links on the right hand side. In ‘Our flagship programmes’ you’ll find info on what we cover in our main Aztecs presentation, as well as links to a slideshow, a brief video clip and a downloadable brochure. For the Maya click on ‘Our programme on the Maya’ in the r/h menu.To read testimonials from teachers and pupils on Mexicolore team visits, follow the link below...) To find a list of all schools we’ve ever worked in (and when), click on ‘Schools that we’ve visited’ (Teacher’s Page, Aztecs section).For the most up-to-date information, please email us and we’ll send you ‘the blurb’!

Our Mexicolore website

This site is constantly checked, added to, and updated. Based in London, you’ll find links to an exceptional range of formal institutions and informal groups, each with some area of expertise on either the Aztecs/Mexica or the Maya, many of which are perfectly suitable for children to explore. Note that we have our own Aztecs for Kids microsite (click on KIDS at the very top of this page): this is packed not just with activities for children but with very carefully researched - and illustrated - information on the Aztecs. Try it out for yourself!Feedback from St. Bernadette’s RCP School, Farnborough (2013): ’We love your website - so much information. A great help for busy teachers and useful for the children and their research projects.’

Take advantage...

... of the work others - including many teachers - have put into preparing teaching materials on the Aztecs. Browse through the Resources pages to get some ideas. If you’re daunted by how to pronounce Aztec names and other words, listen to our Pronunciation guide (see ‘Aztec Language’, in the Aztecs section). If you’re looking for images of Mexican masks to kickstart some artwork, go to our Masks photo gallery (go to the Aztecs section, then click on Mexican Masks, right). If you’re interested in reading answers from world experts to some of the questions YOUR children have been asking (on the Maya as well as the Aztecs), explore our unique Ask the Experts pages. And so on...

Background to the site

This site is aimed primarily at teachers and pupils studying the Aztecs and the Maya in schools in the UK, though it is already proving valuable to academics, cultural institutions, researchers, students and the general public world wide - anyone with some interest in the Aztecs and/or the Maya. All the material has been uploaded in good faith on the understanding that it is used strictly for educational/non-commercial purposes. The site, with some quite personal touches, grows directly from over 38 years of visits made to schools and museums throughout England by Graciela and Ian, the founding Mexicolore team. Many thanks to all those teachers and children who continue to make us so welcome in their schools - and who have become good friends. Enjoy...!

NOTE on FEEDBACK to the site

We encourage visitors to leave comments, and we normally check all incoming website feedback every day: if anyone should ever leave an inappropriate comment, we endeavour to delete it immediately.

Chocolate and the IPC

If your school follows the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), all our programmes include plenty of information and artefacts relating to chocolate and its importance in ancient Mexico. We now have a steadily expanding section entirely on the history of chocolate...

Maya Civilisation

The Aztecs were the last in a long line of advanced civilisations in Mexico going back several thousand years. They learned much from previous peoples, including the Maya. In our current (2018) flagship programme on Ancient Mesoamerica we include plenty of references not only to the Aztecs but also to the Maya, from their calendar systems to their version of the ancient ritual ballgame, from their invention of zero to the chac mool reclining figure that inspired the sculptor Henry Moore, from the Feathered Serpent god to their gourd trumpets...

35 At 7.12pm on Monday September 11 2017, Joan Cline wrote:

Since bears - varieties of both black and Griz - are native to Northern Mexico and would seem to have thrived in the mountainous highlands I am hoping that you may be able to explain why they do not appear as one of the dominant species in the Aztec mythology or calendar. Page 5 of Earthly Things, Book 11, of the Florentine Codex addresses their possible presence in a footnote to the definition of the word “Cuitlachtli”.

Mexicolore replies: We’ve answered this question, as far as we can, in the ‘Ask Us’ section of the site (see l/h menu).

34 At 11.20am on Tuesday February 7 2017, Kyle wrote:

I was wondering in the codices, why are Emperors almost always depicted with something above their head attached with a line? Is there a significance to each object above them or is it just aesthetic?

Mexicolore replies: Most definitely! The symbols attached by a line depict the person’s name. For example, the first Aztec emperor Acamapichtli’s name means ‘Handful of Reeds’ and this symbol - a hand grasping a bundle of reeds - can be seen attached to his head by a black line.

33 At 11.38am on Monday September 26 2016, Edgar Rickets wrote:

http://www.mexicolore.co.uk/images-7/727_01_2.jpgThis image.

Mexicolore replies: OK, we should be able to help with this one as it’s one of ours. You’ll need to let us know a bit more about your intended use of it. I suggest you email us directly...

32 At 5.41pm on Friday September 23 2016, Edgar Rickets wrote:

I am interesting in using one of your images in another piece of art. Where can this be approved?

Mexicolore replies: Happy to help if we can, though we only own the copyright on some of the images on our website. Please write to us specifying which image(s) you’re interested in and we’ll let you know how to proceed...

¿What are the characteristics of the aztec ghosts?.

Mexicolore replies: We’ve no idea! Probably just like any other ghosts.....

how did Aztecs survived so many health hazards i.e. human blood and bodies?

Mexicolore replies: They faced no more ‘health hazards’ than any other people around the globe. Mexico suffers certainly from extremes of climate, so droughts, floods, earthquakes, plagues etc were a constant threat. But don’t be thinking there were heaps of dead bodies and buckets of blood around the place: there wasn’t! That’s a complete myth. On the contrary, by all accounts Tenochtitlan was a super clean city - they had an army of 1,000 people sweeping it clean every day...

29 At 6.49pm on Friday November 2 2012, John Riley wrote:

I am doing an essay on the weapons of the Aztecs, and this site is my biggest resource. Thank you so much. p.s. You should add a weapons page to the green box on the top left of the Aztec page.

Mexicolore replies: Thanks, John. That’s a good idea. We’ll discuss it here as a team...

28 At 6.19am on Sunday September 16 2012, Andrea Ballesteros wrote:

Dear Ian and Graciela, What a wonderful website and project you have. I still remember when I first contacted you a few years ago. I was so impressed by your project and dedication, and being Mexican myself and so, so interested in my country’s history, I was wanting to get involved then and there! I am still based in Australia and studying archaeology now as a pathway to doing a PhD. I hope I can collaborate with you somehow in the near future based on my professional experience, be that as a translator, by contributing an article, as an historian, as a teacher or as a soon-to-be archaeologist. With kind regards,Andrea

Mexicolore replies: ¡Adelante, Andrea! Thanks for your kind words. We’d be delighted if you could contribute, in any capacity. Being that far away the best option might be for you to write an article for Mexicolore. When you are a fully qualified archaeologist, and if you go to work in Mexico, then, wow, there will be plenty of new ways to collaborate... We hope to hear back from you!

27 At 8.25am on Sunday July 22 2012, Katia H wrote:

Is it possible to visit Mexicolore’s real-world address and meet the people who run this website? I adore your amazing website, but I’m not associated with any UK school.

Mexicolore replies: Yes you can! But this needs to be by prior appointment. The time to avoid visiting is during a school term, as we’re all usually out working in schools. Our address is on our Contact page.

26 At 8.08am on Tuesday June 19 2012, Louise Camprubi wrote:

Excellent. They came to my school when I was a child and I remembered them so vividly that I invited them into my class now that I’m a teacher. Now it’s even better! The children had a wonderful time and learnt so much! Such a great way to get them excited about History! Thank you!

Mexicolore replies: Thank YOU, Louise! (You can read more about this story on our ‘Getting Involved’ page...)

25 At 11.27am on Friday May 25 2012, Ewan wrote:

I loved you coming to winterslow

Mexicolore replies: A lovely school to visit, Ewan! Do you remember how we demonstrated the ‘atlatl’ (javelin-thrower) out on the school playground...?!

24 At 9.32pm on Wednesday April 11 2012, Rosa wrote:

Mexicolore replies: In principle, yes, Rosa, but I’m afraid it depends which images you want to reproduce! We have the copyright on many, but not all... Please refer to specific pictures and we’ll let you know...

23 At 1.17pm on Thursday March 29 2012, zeki wrote:

mexicolore is great you get to dress up play instroments and much more

Mexicolore replies: Thanks, Zeki!

22 At 11.50am on Wednesday March 28 2012, marcus weston wrote:

Ian & Graciela you were verry good at doing the aztec show for st.peaters earl shillton class’s 3 & 4.

18 At 5.59pm on Thursday October 20 2011, Miguel wrote:

2 QUESTIONS:1. WHAT IS THE AZTEC SYMBOL FOR GRANDFATHER?2. IS GUADALAJARA IN/PART OF WHAT WAS THE AZTEC EMPIRE?THANK YOU...

Mexicolore replies: • As far as we understand the Aztecs didn’t have a symbol for grandparents; the closest we get to them in Aztec iconography would be the depiction of the elderly in general with wrinkled faces...• No, Guadalajara wouldn’t have been part of the Aztec empire: the most westerly outpost of the empire - in the direction of Guadalajara - would have been the shores of Lake Cuitzeo, near Morelia. Remember that the Aztecs never conquered the Tarascans, whose lands fell in between the Aztec territories and present-day Guadalajara.

Mexicolore replies: Thank you for your interest in our work, Nathalia. Sadly at the present time we don’t have a staff member who can translate into Portuguese. Anyone out there willing/able to help Nathalia’s research on the Aztecs, but in Portuguese...?

15 At 11.33am on Monday July 11 2011, Judy wrote:

I have found a very interesting piece of a dagger/ax with a mans face with an eagle mask and precious stones... i would like to send you a photo of this and see who this represents ... is this possible? please send me an email..

Mexicolore replies: By all means. We will do our best to help. (Please note, generally, that most of these artefact-based queries we post on the ‘Can You Help?’ pages of the site).

14 At 3.34pm on Saturday March 19 2011, Alyssa I. wrote:

Did the Aztecs ever have more than 1 baby at a time like we do today?

Mexicolore replies: if you mean twins, triplets, etc. then yes, though these wouldn’t have been as common as today. In fact twins were thought to be particularly precious and ‘special’ in Aztec times.

13 At 3.33pm on Saturday March 19 2011, Alyssa I. wrote:

What was the most popular name that the Aztecs named their kids?

Mexicolore replies: We think it was Yaotl (warrior) for a boy and Teyacapan (‘First-born’) for a girl; but remember that ‘official’ names were based on the calendar (the day you were born on) and of course these were evenly distributed throughout the year, so we can only talk about most popular nicknames rather than names in Aztec times.

12 At 9.56am on Saturday February 19 2011, Graciela wrote:

I love the Web, I love Mexicolore.... and I love you!!!!!

Mexicolore replies: That makes two of us...!!! (Sorry, everyone else - just two of the Mexicolore team showing our feelings!)

10 At 8.58pm on Thursday December 9 2010, Patrick wrote:

Thank you all so much this site, helped me greatly in my history report

9 At 6.16pm on Saturday November 20 2010, Miss. Ide wrote:

How many knives do you think that people found today in Mexico City? thanks once again sorry to be a bother!

Mexicolore replies: Many! The museum of the Templo Mayor (main Aztec temple) in Mexico City is full of sacrifice flints/obsidian blades, and they’re finding new ones all the time. Many ‘ofrendas’ (ritual offerings) include knives, as indications that the individuals themselves had been sacrificed to the gods. But many others are found with faces depicted on them: these represent the calendar/day sign ‘Tecpatl’, which is no. 18 in the calendar cycle of 20 signs. And yet others are undecorated and represent the black, dry, cold northern region of the universe, ravaged by fierce winds, ruled by the god Black Tezcatlipoca, one of whose characteristics was an obsidian blade symbolizing black wind.

8 At 6.15pm on Saturday November 20 2010, Brea L. wrote:

What was the whole purpose of the ball game? Thanks again Brea L.

Mexicolore replies: It was a sacred and ritual game that to a large extent represented the forces of the universe: the ball itself represented the movement of the Sun during the day in the sky. You can learn more about the meaning of the game in our ‘Aztefacts’ section - the article called ‘Oh balls!’

7 At 6.05pm on Saturday November 20 2010, Brea L. wrote:

After they got the heart out why did they push the people down the steps?

Mexicolore replies: After the heart was removed and burnt in the sacred bowl (the smoke would carry the heart’s ‘fuel’ up to the Sun God), the rest of the body was disposed of - not by being thrown away as rubbish, but by being thrown down the temple steps and then ceremoniously cut up and distributed, though not just to anyone - usually to the family of the warrior who had captured the victim (in battle) in the first place.

6 At 6.04pm on Saturday November 20 2010, Miss. Ide wrote:

Hello! How did the aztecs know what to name their kids?

Mexicolore replies: There are two points here: the Aztecs would name a child ‘officially’ in the days following his/her birth, according to the sacred calendar (by consulting a soothsayer trained to read and interpret the day signs), but they would also (later) give the child a nickname, often linked to their features, looks or personality. You can see some examples of these on our website - go to the ‘Aztec Life’ section and click on ‘Tiger Top’.

5 At 1.31pm on Friday November 19 2010, Sra. Smith wrote:

Hello, again. This time 5W was wondering if anyone still played the ritual ball game today (other than women)? If the pyramids had guards?

Mexicolore replies: The game is still played, though nothing like on the scale in ancient times. Where it’s still played, it’s often just for tourists - very much like the ‘Voladores’ pole-flying ceremony from Papantla. There are a few regional variations, and one researcher (Professor Manuel Aguilar-Moreno) has studied a version that’s still played today at night (and they set fire to the ball!) - in olden days this would have represented the belief in the night-time Sun God who descends every day to illuminate the world of spirits in the underworld before being born again the next morning.

We’d be very surprised if the temple-pyramids didn’t have guards in ancient times, though we can’t think of a source of evidence for this right now...

4 At 2.24am on Friday March 12 2010, jose luis wrote:

well the page is great and all of the information as well but i think it is time to let people know that we did not have gods. since you well know that this word was brouht by the spaniars.and what we have were representations of the nature forces. but well that is up to you ..4 the rest congratulations for the job you are doing.

Mexicolore replies: Thanks for your comments, Jose Luis. To be really honest, we feel life is too short to be too ‘hung up’ about whether we should talk about ‘gods’ or ‘representations of the forces of nature’. Human beings have surely got into enough trouble as it is over the centuries for inventing and arguing over God and gods...